The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1887-03-10

GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF FLORIDA,
By ]. KOST, Md, LID.

L
datey the work Of the State Geological Survey after
receiving my commission and that have improved all my
time in the work of the survey that my other professional
duties admitted.
am pleased sir to be able report material suc
cess, while the conveniences formy work were mi
But as nothing at present has been expected TO
be done other than preliminary inspection and such gen.
era geological observations possible under the cir
recognized in the giving of the commission
have not attempted thorough work in any part Of my pro-
ceedngs
ready to that the results of my observa
tons will fully justify the Legislature this spring provide
for two years work in regular geological survey of the
State by the services of State geoogt and assistant with
the help of civil engineer who also draughs
man. and competent chemist who may also natural
st This would comprise corps of four This personal
help with provision for contingent expenses
for transportation and the employment of two
aborers will effect all required for the time here specified
These suggestions think warranted by the facts
to follow in this report.
Aware of the fact that the State had received
tenton in the way of geological survey, and that
casual transient attention made could afford basis
for procedure determined first ascertain the horizons
of the bed rocks in the tertiary of the State their Dip
thickness and character This effected would then admit
of the adoption of plan of regular special geological local
work in the usual way successfully.
In the first named particular found as had expected
from the presence almost everywhere of deep deposits of
the quarternary and materials sand cays and
humus Very few exposures of bed rock were discover
able On the other hand the for roads and excavations
for other improvements uncomfortable in this level
country that the facilities thus be afforded are very
meagre Nor the exposures of river excavations and
coast erosions of any greater advantage
From these considerations soon became impressed with
the fact that the at hand in this preliminary work
will not afford the accomplishment of the proposed prim
airy object that is full determination the character
OF the tertiary rock beds in all parts of the State in refer
to their thickness, dip and horizon Nevertheless
progress has been effected in these regards have
discovered that every member of the terares is
and that the deposits of considerable Depth especially
of the lower or eocene.
Ipredicted at an early part of my inspection that
pretty extensive ancna, of axis parallel with that of
the peninsula, trends centrally through the peninsula
was led to believe that the force that effected the up
exerted after the deposit of the eocene because
the later rocks differ in character the two sides of the
ridge Those of the east coquina rocks while those of
the west coraferous and shelly limestone and sand
stone with much slicious material Now therefore, the
physical conditions in which these several deposits were
made essentially different
There pretty good evidence also that the southern por
ton of the peninsula, for time, had lain at higher
altitude than present and higher than portions of
northern parts of the peninsula do not take the
WlthlacOO
chee upper part of the Ockawaha and part of the trbuta
res Of the Santa Fe the only evidence Of this
ton.
Middle and Western Florida have in their bed rocks the
characteristics those of the west slope or half
of the peninsula. The supermposed materials are remark
able for their DEPTH and the ocays and loose sand
stone and soft limestone
In parts of the State all the rocks later than the
eocene and this latter ITSELF often exceedingly cavenous
admitting of vast channels and running streams into which
numerous sinks descend abruptly These are of all d.
mensons from foot in width to extent of several
of surface These Unfortunately are liable to be
of the same depth-ha is they all liable to be quite
deep When these have water present. this may be contn
nous with the common water level But when the sinks
choked descent of waterfalls the water will stead
lily hold somewhat normal depth level The water of
the deep often aes with the tide of the sea- showing
that the opening is continuous
In instances these subterranean streams omen
out in springs of which of immense size and force
These springs have various distances source Some of
them from sinks draining contiguous surfaces and
thus bring up leaves and woody Fragments various in size
and freshness Leaves sometimes brought up in the
larger springs that quite fresh and green Fishes and
insects also thus elected.
The waters OF these springs very DIVERSE according
to the rocky materials which they traverse great num
Der of them contain iron in form Of white hydrate or on
the other hand in various degrees of odton and 80 are
io VI ooo oooie III various shaoes OF redness The iron
from suphate impure sulphuret and thus of
somewhat easy solution in the water Some of the snrnos
contain uhuraed hydrogen gas and scented thus at
considerable distance Lime, alumina magnesia soda and
potash very frequently present in solution The gal
in the water will escape keeping and persons are often
surprised to find that their suhu oaer" ceases to be
"sulphur s0ater " when it is not fresh.
Iron very widely distributed in small quantity brouob
out the clayey deposits, and in a smaller quantity
but greater extent, in the sand deposit and rocks both
of limestone and sandstone The iron mostly in solution
but often in grains nodules and boulders Alwaxs in